ISLAMABAD, Dec 17: The visiting Vice President of Afghanistan, Hedayat Amin Arsala, called on President Gen Pervez Musharraf here on Tuesday and discussed with him regional situation and enhanced cooperation, particularly in the field of trade and investment, between the two countries.

Arsala appreciated the cooperation and assistance being offered by Pakistan and discussed with Musharraf several areas of future cooperation, including technical assistance for postal services, micro-banking, repair of infrastructure, particularly, roads and telecommunications.

The president highlighted the close relations between the two countries and congratulated the government of Afghanistan for its reconstruction efforts. The two leaders noted with satisfaction substantial increase in trade.

He also emphasized the needed for greater trade between the two countries and the need for streamlining Afghan transit trade.

The Afghan vice president congratulated the president for holding smooth elections and hoped that this would augur well for Pakistan and help in further development of the country.

The president conveyed his best wishes for President Hamid Karzai and hoped that brotherly relations between the two countries would continue to strengthen.

Later, the vice president also met ministers for foreign affairs, water and power and Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance Shaukat Aziz.

Earlier, on his arrival, Arsala was received by Aziz.

He would call on Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali on Wednesday and continue discussion with Aziz and Minister for Commerce Homayon Akhtar Khan.

Talking to Dawn, the prime minister’s advisor on finance said he would be discussing with Arsala the details of funding of $100 million that was announced by Pakistan last year for Afghanistan. Pakistan has already disbursed over $20 million dollar to Afghanistan.

“We have discussed common tariff for certain items,” he said, adding that there was a proposal that the Afghan government could appoint some representatives at Karachi for collecting custom on goods that were meant for Afghanistan.

However, Aziz said these issues would be finalised when Afghan Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani visits Pakistan shortly. The Pakistan government, he further said, was also willing to help repair Jalalabad-Turkhum road and the opening of micro credit bank in Afghanistan.

He said a delegation of private sector would also meet the Afghan vice president on Wednesday to discuss accelerating construction and other reconstruction activities in Afghanistan.

KASURI: Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri reiterated Pakistan’s full support to the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts of Afghanistan, adds APP.

He made the assurance during a meeting with the Afghan vice president at the foreign office on Tuesday.

The foreign minister assured the Afghan leader that Pakistan desired close fraternal relations with Afghanistan and would provide full support to Afghanistan’s reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

Arsala expressed his satisfaction with the state of bilateral relations between the two countries, which, he hoped, would grow from strength to strength.

The two exchanged views on measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in all fields.